A drug dealer involved in importing cocaine from Colombia as part of an international crime network has been locked up. Ian Cary, 49, was part of a gang which sourced the class As from the south American country, which has a notorious reputation for drugs cartels.
The North West Regional Organised Crime Unit said Cary was part of a plot to import drugs into the UK from Columbia via the postal service and UK ports. He has been jailed for almost a decade after his crimes were uncovered following the hacking of the EncroChat network, known as 'WhatsApp for criminals'.
Cary, from Blackley, was known on the shadowy platform by the handle 'Where are you'. He was jailed alongside another man, Matthew Record, 39, from Liverpool, who used the handle 'Ripesun' to contact other criminals to buy kilos of cocaine for cash.
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"This case involves the serious commercial trade of class A controlled drugs between March and June 2020," Judge Alan Conrad QC said. "You Ian Cary were also involved in the importation of cocaine.
"The investigation showed you had both used encrypted telephones to carry out your parts in these offences, communicating in explicit terms about your offending, no doubt in the belief that you were safe from detection."
He said both men had been in direct contact with another alleged EncroChat user higher up the chain, who has not been apprehended. In EncroChat messages, 'substantial' amounts of money were mentioned.
"The trade in which you were involved was a vile one," the judge said. Defending, Neil Ronan said Cary was 'not at the top of the food chain', and that while he has been locked up others involved were 'scot free and spending the money'.
David Toal, for father-of-three Record, said there was no evidence that any of the deals talked about were actually completed. He was previously released from prison in 2009 and had made an effort to 'stay out of trouble'. A third man, 45-year-old James Fox, of North Road, Manchester, was previously jailed for eight years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and conspiracy to produce cannabis.
Detective Inspector Mike Robinson, of the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), said: "Between 28th March 2020 and 4th June 2020, James Fox, Ian Cary and Matthew Record arranged the supply of multi kilo amounts of cocaine and heroin and we're happy that with them behind bars, there's fewer drug suppliers on the streets causing misery to our communities across the North West.
"Here at the NWROCU we’re committed to targeting the supply of drugs and will leave no stone unturned in pursuit of those people who think they are above the law. As part of Operation Venetic, the NWROCU has so far arrested 73 people, of which 67 have been charged with serious drug trafficking or firearms offences.
"This year will see a number of these people continuing to appear before the courts, and we welcome each and every one for its role in disrupting and dismantle organised crime across the world." Cary, of Osterley Road, Blackley, pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, and two counts of fraudulently evading a prohibition.
Record, of Pemburey Way, Halewood, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class A drug. Cary was jailed for nine years and nine months, while Record was sentenced to six years and nine months.
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